St Gallen v
Liverpool

Glen Johnson made his debut as a second-half substitute as Liverpool's preparations for 09-10 got off to a low key start with a goalless draw against St Gallen in Switzerland.

The Reds were more than matched throughout their first pre-season encounter with the Swiss minnows as boss Rafael Benitez used the game to give each member of his 24 man squad a much-needed run-out.

In a contest boasting little by way of goalmouth action, it was the visitors who made the first opening of note when Ryan Babel and Krisztian Nemeth combined down the left, but the Hungarian's stabbed shot from just outside the six yard box was well blocked by Reto Bolli in the St Gallen goal.

The hosts were in buoyant mood following an opening day win over Basle in the Swiss Super league on Sunday and they responded on 14 minutes when Philipp Degen was forced into a desperate clearance after Ze Vitor had cut the ball back from a dangerous position on the right-hand by-line.

Three minutes later and it was a case of déjà vu, but this time Mario Caceras was left hanging his head in dismay after he somehow contrived to hit the post from close range following another neat move down the right.

The Reds were showing some neat approach play in attack but it was the home side who once again came closest to opening the scoring when Jamie Carragher was forced to hook clear from underneath his own crossbar after Ze Vitor had headed Fernando's searching free-kick back across the six yard box.

Ahead of the match Benitez had made clear his intentions to field a different XI in the second period and the inevitable changes brought with it the introduction of new boy Glen Johnson.

The former Portsmouth man showed glimpses of his quality playing in an unfamiliar left-back position and he almost opened the scoring five minutes after the restart when he latched on to David Ngog's flick and drilled a shot just wide.

Dani Pacheco and Yossi Benayoun then combined to create an opening that saw the Israel international cut inside and force a fine save out of Bolli.

It was the same duo who carved out the Reds' next chance on 73 minutes when Pacheco forced a corner with a low shot from the edge of the area, while Ngog should have done better when he guided the resulting corner over the crossbar.

With time running out Benitez opted to give a run-out to both Daniel Ayala and goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi - with the last two members of the squad of 24 replacing substitutes Martin Kelly and David Martin - as the Reds were made to settle for a goalless draw.